Shoe-cleaning device.



0. J. McGANN.

SHOE CLEANING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12, 1914.

1,1 38,232. Patented May 4, 1915.

WTTED STATES PATENT OFFTQE.

OWEN J. MCGANN, 0F FOX TOWNSHIP, CARROLL COUNTY, OHIO.

SHOE-CLEANING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 4, 1915.

Application filed June 12, 1914. Serial No. 844,644.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, OWEN J. MCGANN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the township of Fox, county of Carroll, and State'of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Cleaning Devices, and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of tlieinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to improvements in boot and shoe cleaning devices, and more particularly to a simple .type of cleaner which may be secured in any convenient location or position.

Briefly stated, the device comprises a frame or support, preferably made of sheet metal straps bent in the desired shape to form a support for a set of cleaning brushes and scrapers, and means for securing the device to a floor or the like.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of this character simple in construction and operation, and capable of being manufactured at a minimum cost, and yet so constructed as to give long and efiicient service.

Referring to the drawings, in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device; Fig. 2 is a top plan view; and Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of-Fig. 1 showing the tension device for adjusting the side brushes in the desired operative position.

Particular reference being had to the drawings, 1, designates the main portion of the support of the device, preferably made of strap iron or steel, the after end of which is bent downwardly at 2 and terminating in an angular end portion 3, which is adapted to lie flat upon the floor or the like for securing the after end of said device in the desired position. The forward end portion of the support 1 is bent upwardly and carries a scraper 4 which is adapted to remove the excess dirt or mud from the sole or bottom of the shoe during the operation of the device, and just prior to the cleaning of the sole by the hereinafter mentioned brushes. To support the forward end of the main support 1, there is provided a curved section 5 riveted or otherwise secured thereto, the lower end of said section being bent to form a flat portionv 6 for securing the forward end of the device-to the floor. This forward support 5 is made of such length as to give the mam support 1 a slanting or raking position, as shown. Securedto the support 5 at its lower end by rivets, or similar fastenings, is a cross brace or transverse support 7. This brace prevents the device from tilting sidewise, and taken in conjunction with the floor-plate sections 3 and 6, provides a novel and rigid support for the entire device. Rigidly secured to the main support 1 is a brush or cleaning element 9 which acts as an additional cleaning medium for the bottoms of the boot or shoe after the surplus mud or dirt has been first removed by the scraper 4. Hinged to the outer ends of the transverse support 7 are two vertical side pieces 11 and 12, also made of strap iron or steel, which extend up above the middle brush 9 and have secured to their upper ends, side brushes 13 and 14, said brushes being preferably secured to the side pieces by small bolts, as shown. Secured to the forward ends of the brushes 13 and 14 and projecting inwardly, are two metallic plates 16, which are adapted to remove or scrape most of the mud or dirt from the edges orside of the shoe before the same is brought back to be further cleaned by the brushing elements 13 and 14. These scrapers perform the same function for the edges of the shoe as the scraper 4 performs for the bottom thereof.

The hingedconnections between the ends of the cross support 7 and the side pieces 11 and 12 are formed by using loosely set up rivets 15, which is the preferred form, but any other convenient means may be employed.

By having the vertical pieces 11 and 12 hinged as described, the side brushes 13 and 14 may be forced apart or brought together at will, according to the size of the boot or shoe to be cleaned. To facilitate the working of the side brushes, and to make the operation of the device automatic and more effective, there is provided a return mecha nism in the form of a compression spring 17. This spring 17 is inclosed in a barrel or cylinder 18, and working therein are two headers or pistons 19 and 20, which confine the spring within the cylinder 18, said pistons having connecting rods 22 and 21, respec tively, inclosed by the spring and in parallel relation to each other. The outer ends of the rods 21 and 22 are connected to the'vertical side pieces 11 and 12, and normally hold said side pieces in retracted position.

By retaining or inclosing the spring 17 within the barrel or cylinder 18, the dirt that falls down between the brushes during the cleaning process will not clog said spring and interfere with the eflicient operation of the device.

The spreading facility of the brushes l3 and 14 not only allows the device to accommodate shoes of different sizes, but when spread apart will permit the dirt and mud to drop down between said brushes 13 and 1.4. and bottom brush 9, thus preventing the accumulation of dirt in the above mentioned brushes. Another advantage to be noted is that by having the base or support of the device of open or skeleton formation, the cleanings will not clog the same, and can be easily swept up and removed from around said device.

Upon referring to the drawings, and from the foregoing description, the function or working of spring 16 and the general opera.- tion of the device will be obvious.

What I claim is 2- 1. A device for cleaning shoes and the like, comprising a skeleton-like frame or support, a scraper and cleaning brush rigidly secured to said support, two vertical side cleaning brushes hinged to said frame or support, and side scrapers secured to the Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

, the side brushes in their contracted position,

a. barrel or cylinder inclosing said spring, and oppositely disposed piston rods carrying pistons working within said cylinder and adapted to compress the spring between the same, said rods having their outer ends connected to the side brushes for controlling the movement of said brushes.

3. A device for cleaning shoes and the like, comprising a skeleton-like frame or support consisting of a central or main longitudinal support having front and rear securing legs, and a cleaning brush and scraper rigidly attached thereto, a transverse support secured to the front supporting leg of said main support and at right angles thereto, a pair of vertical side members hinged to the outer ends of said transverse support carrying side cleaning brushes, and metallic side scrapers attached to the forward ends of said side cleaning brushes.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

OWEN J. MoGANN. lVitnesses WM. J. GEEK, J. W. MoRnoW.

Washington, D. G. 

